Laowai

Somehow March has gone by really fast. And now at its end, we've had visitors! Jennifer and Jenna drove mom to our house. They spent the weekend and left mom to spend the week. I haven't had my family here since before we moved to Switzerland. It has felt so nice! I especially love being in the kitchen and looking over to see everyone gathered at the banquette table. 

We enjoyed games and a movie in the basement.

Jennifer and I found a big antique warehouse and had so much fun looking around. 

One booth was filled with old photos and we could have stood there and looked at them all day long.

Bea made an apple cake during her Zoom German class.

Mom is busy doing a puzzle. I helped some, but I won't be staying up until 2:00 to finish it like mom and Jennifer are known to do. 

Last week I did get to go on my regular walk at the Chicago Botanic Garden. I took a friend along so I didn't take many photos. We saw lots of early bulbs but it felt like the big show of color was just a few days away.

I started just a few perennials in my warm dining room. Some coral bells and some globe thistle – I hope I don't kill them.

I've been working on my garage doors. My first outdoor painting project. I'm scraping and sanding and then I'll give them a fresh coat of paint. The wood underneath seems in surprisingly good shape and there are not layers upon layers of paint. I feel like it's a doable project for me – if the weather continues to cooperate I could have it done quickly.

So other than all that we're just having a quiet week with grandma. The girls are having their Spring Break but we're not going anywhere (because of the pandemic). It's almost April and I'm looking forward to planning a vacation this summer.